Turkey

Italgen sells 142.5MW project to Turkish utility

TURKEY: Turkish integrated utility Enerjisa has bought a 142.5MW wind power project from Italgen, the energy arm of Italian cement producer Italcementi, for an unknown sum.

The project, located near Kepsut in the western Balikesir province, is one of the largest in the country. Construction is due to start this year, for completion in 2013.

Enerjisa is jointly owned by Sabanci Holding, a Turkish industrial and financial conglomerate, and Austrian utility Verbund. It commissioned its first wind power plant, 30MW at Canakkale in February, and is building another 39MW at Dagpazari.

The company is targeting up to 500MW of installed wind capacity by 2015.

At the time, Italgen said the move was part of its strategy to acquire a critical mass in its target markets, including Turkey, where it aimed to build 150-200MW of operating capacity, focusing on renewable resources and especially wind.

The company was unavailable to comment as to why it decided to sell the Bares project, or if it is pulling out of the Turkish wind power market completely.

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